Brunei Darussalam country brief

Bilateral relations

Australia has maintained a diplomatic presence in Brunei since it gained its full independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. However, our historical links stretch back to WWII, when in 1945, Australian forces landed at Muara Beach as part of the Allied campaign to end the occupation of Borneo. In June 2005, Brunei's then Foreign Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, agreed to an Australian proposal to erect a permanent memorial to mark the 1945 landings.

Defence and security links

Australia has long-standing defence and security links with Brunei. We engage with Brunei through strategic dialogues, bilateral military exercises, and Australia provides technical assistance to Bruneian defence and security officials.

Australia and Brunei cooperate closely on security threats facing the region and there are close links between Australian and Bruneian police, security, counter-terrorism and immigration authorities.

In 2005, Australia and Brunei signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, providing for cooperation on customs, finance, immigration, intelligence, law enforcement, security and transport.

People to people links

Australia has a strong education relationship with Brunei. Around 12,000 Bruneian students have studied in Australia, making it the second most popular destination for Bruneian students, behind the United Kingdom. There are around 450 Bruneian students studying in Australia at any one time. Brunei also participates in the New Colombo Plan as a host country.